Tape cleaning device



Jan. 28, 1964 w, s E 3,119,140

TAPE CLEANING DEVICE Filed Jan. 23, 1962 INVENTOR. HERBERT W. SALLET ymw ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,119,140 TAPE CLEANING DEVICE Herbert W. Sallet, Riverda-le, Md, assignor to Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator Company, Minneapolis, Minn, a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 23, 1962, Ser. No. 168,073 4 Claims. (Cl. 15-606) This invention relates to tape transports. More specif ically, the present invention relates to tape cleaners.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved tape cleaning device for use with a tape transport.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved tape cleaning device operatively energized by the motion of the tape.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved tape cleaning device, as set forth herein, having a simple operation and construction.

In accomplishing these and other objects, there has been provided, in accordance with the present invention, a tape cleaning device having a rotatably mounted perforated cylindrical shell. This shell is arranged to be contacted by a moving tape whereby to impart a rotary motion to the shell. The shell is perforated to allow air to enter the space defined by the shell. One end of the shell is flanged and provided with air passages in the flange to connect the space within the shell to the outside atmosphere. An air deflector is arranged to cover the part of the shell not covered by the tape with the exception of an air space extending across the width of the tape where the tape approaches and leaves the shell. The tape contact and the separation of the deflector is such that the shell perforations are completely exposed to the atmosphere only at the aforesaid spaces. A cylinder having air channels therein is provided within the shell to guide the air entering the perforations from the outside atmosphere to the aforesaid air passages. The rotary motion of the shell creates a vacuum within the shell to induce an air flow in the aforesaid air spaces through the perforations whereby to clean the adjacent tape surface.

A better understanding of the present invention may be had from the following detailed description, when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tape cleaner embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the tape cleaner in FIG. 1 taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 3 with an additional showing of a tape thereon.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the tape cleaner shown in FIG. 2 taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 1 in more detail, there is shown a tape cleaner having a perforated cylindrical shell 1 forming a tape bearing surface. One end of the shell 1 is radially extended to form a flange 3 having air passages 4- therein. The shell 1 is rotatably mounted on a fixed mounting shaft 5 for mounting the tape cleaner on a tape transport. An air deflector 7 is fixedly mounted on the shaft 5 adjacent to the unflanged end of the shell 1. The deflector 7 is arranged to partially cover the perforated surface of the shell 1 with a minimum spacing therefrom but allowing rotation of the shell 1. The deflector 7 is arranged to leave exposed the portion of the shell 1 which contacts a tape passing thereacross.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is shown a cross-section of FIG. 1 along line 22 of FIG. 3 with the additional showing of a tape 10 passing thereacross. A pair of bearings 11 are provided for rotatably mounting the shell 1 upon the shaft 5. As shown in FIG. 2, the air passages 4 connect the inside of the shell 1 with the external atmosphere. A cylinder 13 is fixedly positioned on the shaft 5 within the shell 1. The cylinder 13 is coexten- 3,119,140 Patented Jan. 28, 1964 ice sive with the perforated portion of the shell 1. Further, the clearance between the cylinder 13 and the inside surface of the shell 1 is arranged to be a minimum distance compatible with free rotation of the shell 1. In order to allow any air passing through the perforated shell 1 to reach the passages 4, a pair of air channels 15 are provided in the cylinder 13.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the air channels 15 are positioned on the cylinder 13 in a predetermined relationship with respect to the deflector 7. Specifically, the air channels 15 are positioned adjacent the ends of the deflector 7. The deflector 7, in turn, is arranged to cover the shell 1 over the portion of the shell surface not in contact with the tape 10. Thus, the tape 10, in passing over the tape cleaner, is arranged to partially contact a substantial portion of the outside surface of the shell 1 whereby the shell 1 functions as a tape idler. A portion of the shell 1, accordingly, is, at any instant, not in contact with the tape 10. The deflector 7 is arranged adjacent this portion of the shell 1 with a provision for a pair of transverse air spaces 16 between the edge of deflector 7 and the tape 10, extending across the width of the tape 1d, on both sides of the deflector 7. Since the tape 10 tightly covers the surface of the shell 1 which it contacts and the deflector 7 is arranged at a minimum distance from the shell 1, the shell perforations are exposed to the outside atmosphere only at the air spaces 16.

In operation, the tape cleaner of the present invention is mounted on a tape transport in the path of a moving tape 11B. The tape 11) is arranged to wrap around a portion of the shell 1 whereby to impart a rotary motion to the shell 1 as the tape passes thereacross. The rotation of the shell 1 is effective to rotate the air passages 4 and the inside surface of the shell 1 with respect to the fixed cylinder 13. This rotation is effective to developa lowered air pressure on the inside of the shell 1 with respect to the atmospheric pressure on the outside of the shell 1 by displacing the air between the cylinder 13 and shell 1. As previously discussed, the only place that air can freely enter the perforations of the shell 1 as a result of the presence of the tape 16 and the spacing of the deflector 7, is through the air spaces 16. The outside air, impelled by the aforesaid lowered air pressure inside the shell 1, enters the air spaces 16 and passes through the perforations in the shell 1 to the air channels 15. This air movement is effective to remove dirt particles from the surface of the moving tape 11) adjacent the spaces 16. After passing into the channels 15, the dirt-laden air is finally expelled through the air passages 4 in the shell 1. Thus, the surface of the tape 10 is continuously cleaned as it passes over the spaces 16 between the shell 1 and the deflector 7.

Accordingly, it may be seen that there has been provided, in accordance, with the present invention, a tape cleaner for continuously cleaning a moving tape and operatively energized by the motion of the tape.

What is claimed is:

1. A tape cleaner comprising a perforated cylindrical shell for supporting a moving tape, said shell having substantially closed ends and a flange at one end thereof with air passages connecting a space defined by said shell with the external atmosphere, means for rotatably mounting said shell, a fixed cylinder having air channels positioned Within said shell and spaced from the interior surface of said shell, said air channels communicating with said air passages via an end of said space defined by said shell, and air deflector means positioned adjacent to an outside surface of said shell not supporting said tape to form a chamber therewith having an effective opening only between the edges of said deflector means and said shell and to define a space between an edge of said deflector means and the tape passing across said shell, said space extend- 3 ing across the width of said tape and exposing said shell perforations to the atmosphere.

2. A tape cleaner comprising a perforated substantially closed cylindrical shell for supporting a moving tape across the width of said tape, an outwardly projecting flange attached to one end of said shell, said flange having air passages therein connecting a space defined by said shell with the external atmosphere, means for rotatably mounting said shell, a fixed cylinder having air channels positioned within said shell and spaced from the interior surface of said shell, said air channels communicating with said air passages via an end of said space defined by said shell, and air deflector means positioned adjacent to an outside surface of said shell not supporting said tape to form a substantially closed chamber therewith having an opening between the edges of said deflector means and said shell and to define a space between an edge of said deflector means and the tape passing across said shell, said space extending across the width of said tape and exposing said shell perforations to the atmosphere.

3. A tape cleaner comprising a perforated substantially closed cylindrical shell for suuporting a moving tape across the width of said tape, an outwardly projecting flange attached to one end of said shell, said flange having symmetrically arranged radially extending air passages therein connecting a space defined by said shell with the external atmosphere, bearing means for rotatably mounting said shell to support said tape, a cylinder having a pair of air channels recessed in its surface, said cylinder being fixedly positioned within said shell and spaced from the interior surface of said shell with said air channels connecting an adjacent portion of the inside surface of said shell with said air passages in said flange via an end of said space defined by said shell, and air deflector means positioned coextensive with an outside surface of said shell not supporting said tape to form a chamber therewith having an effective opening only between the edges of said deflector means and said shell and to define a space between an edge of said deflector means and the tape passing across said shell, said space extending across the Width of said tape and exposing said shell perforations to the atmosphere.

4. A tape cleaner comprising a perforated rotatably mounted hollow tape guide defining a substantially closed interior space for supporting a moving tape, a plurality of passages arranged within one end of said tape guide to connect the interior space of said tape guide with the external environment, a fixed member having a plurality of channels in the peripheral surface of said member mounted within said tape guide and spaced from the interior surface of said tape guide, said channels communicating with said passages via an end of said interior space of said tape guide, and deflector means positions adjacent to an outside surface of said tape guide not supporting said tape to form a chamber therewith having an effective opening only between the edges of said deflector means and said shell means and to define a space between an edge of said deflector means and the tape passing across said shell, said space exposing the perforations of said tape guide to the external environment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,433,828 Kimble Oct. 31, 1922 1,629,154 De Ybarrondo May 17, 1927 2,532,910 Hayward Dec. 5, 1950 2,871,502 Whisnant Feb. 3, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 448,818 Germany Aug. 25, 1927 843,806 Great Britain Aug. 10, 1960 

4. A TAPE CLEANER COMPRISING A PERFORATED ROTATABLY MOUNTED HOLLOW TAPE GUIDE DEFINING A SUBSTANTIALLY CLOSED INTERIOR SPACE FOR SUPPORTING A MOVING TAPE, A PLURALITY OF PASSAGES ARRANGED WITHIN ONE END OF SAID TAPE GUIDE TO CONNECT THE INTERIOR SPACE OF SAID TAPE GUIDE WITH THE EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT, A FIXED MEMBER HAVING A PLURALITY OF CHANNELS IN THE PERIPHERAL SURFACE OF SAID MEMBER MOUNTED WITHIN SAID TAPE GUIDE AND SPACED FROM THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF SAID TAPE GUIDE, SAID CHANNELS COMMUNICATING WITH SAID PASSAGES VIA AN END OF SAID INTERIOR SPACE OF SAID TAPE GUIDE, AND DEFLECTOR MEANS POSITIONS ADJACENT TO AN OUTSIDE SURFACE OF SAID TAPE GUIDE NOT SUPPORTING SAID TAPE TO FORM A CHAMBER THEREWITH HAVING AN EFFECTIVE OPENING ONLY BETWEEN THE EDGES OF SAID DEFLECTOR MEANS AND SAID SHELL MEANS AND TO DEFINE A SPACE BETWEEN AN EDGE OF SAID DEFLECTOR MEANS AND THE TAPE PASSING ACROSS SAID SHELL, SAID SPACE EXPOSING THE PERFORATIONS OF SAID TAPE GUIDE TO THE EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT. 